I love to have a good look around the marvellous French pharmacies and shops, Monoprix is a particularly good one! I didn’t have that much opportunity this time as it was a family holiday. It’s much easier when l’m away with my sister or a friend! But I did find a few opportunities!
This blog does contains some recent posts that I know are so easily missed and have been asked for, with added content, as I can write so much more here and have a freer reign! It’s so easy to miss posts as they whizz by so quickly, as who has the time or inclination to be looking or scrolling all the time! And lots of people don’t subscribe, so a blog is a chance to catch up on all the stories, and to read what interests you. So please add a comment if you want any more information, help, or just to chat! And of course if you want me to address anything in particular.
You can spend any amount of money on cosmetics and skincare, but for me the thrill is when I can find really super products, at the same quality for a fraction of the price. It’s not about the money but the thrill of finding that super equivalent! That’s why I call it Shoestringbeauty, beauty on a shoestring, luxe for less! Come hunt with me!
The first product I stumbled across was this exfoliator by Avene. Gentle Exfoliating Gel has been on my wish list for quite some time. I had to dash into a very smart pharmacy in Quimper as we had forgotten some important medication! (Yup, I was in the dog house 🤣 they weren’t going to help me without a prescription, but the powers of the NHS app worked as proof!)
Anyway after I had got said pills, and I thanked the pharmacist profusely, I had a sneaky peek around. What gorgeous products!
The reason I had wanted to get this particular exfoliant was its gentleness. There are lots out there, like everything else, but so many are harsh, and you feel like you are rubbing bolders over your face! Having a mature, sun damaged skin, I have a few broken capillaries and my skin is pretty thin and sensitive. I still need a good exfoliation, but I can’t use all the acids and crystal micro exfoliation that you find in salons.
But this one is lovely and gentle and the beads are suspended in a gel, so it’s soft and smooth on your skin. Just apply a little to damp skin and massage, then rinse off with tepid water. It means I can use it thoroughly and once a week. Of course, when you do that you find your skincare goes on better, is absorbed more readily and then your makeup looks some way to flawless (I can always hope!)
This is what Avene say, “ Avene Exfoliating Gel gently exfoliates and purifies the skin, removing impurities and dead skin cells, for a sensation of fresh, clean, and luminous skin. With Avène Thermal Spring Water, which calms the irritations and comforts the skin. Cellulose Beads and Jojoba Wax Beads remove dead cells from the skin surface.” So there you have it!
£12 available on Amazon, at some Boots & Superdrug and online.
https://www.avene.co.uk/p/gelee-gommante-douceur-3282770152586-b5405ca4
The hotel in Quimper had gorgeous shampoo and shower gel but no body lotion! That’s no good I thought, my skin will feel like a dried prune, so I went in to my fav Monoprix and had a look to see what they had. They are part supermarket, homewear, skincare and clothes (some great linen!)
Nestled in the body care section was a whole range by Marseillais - Le Petit Marseillais to be exact. I’ve had their shower gel before, and it’s natural with fabulous fragrances and super soft.
Now, this body lotion is really meant for the summer as it’s thin, light but very creamy. Goes on beautifully and absorbs quickly. Ideal for those hotter Summer days. This one has the oh so lovely, gentle fragrance of orange blossom, you could be up in the hills of Grasse, very French, very gorgeous! You can buy online and Amazon for around £6.50
“Le Petit Marseillais 48H Hydration Hydrating Milk Orange Blossom Organic 250ml is a milk made from orange blossoms known for their moisturizing properties, hand-picked and infused under the Mediterranean sun.
With its melting texture and delicate fragrance, this milk penetrates quickly and replenishes the skin for 48 hours of hydration.”
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Petit-Marseillais-Hydration-Hydrating-Blossom/dp/B096KRQ29V
So all the hotels did have lovely French shampoo but I saw this and had to try it as without doubt Le Petit Marseiliais products are quite lovely!
The Cream Shampoo with Honey from Provence turns out to be quite a rich shampoo (a bit too rich for my hair) great if you had dry hair. It’s full of honey from Provence and smells yummy! Rich lather, hair feels super clean and very well cared for. I would definitely keep my eyes open for an everyday shampoo.
“Its formula is composed of: Organic Provence Honey, an iconic ingredient collected in the South of France, renowned for its nourishing and restorative properties and Organic Shea, a butter from the crushed nuts of the shea tree, known for its moisturising and softening properties.”
In the tiny village of Locronan, (known as one of the prettiest villages in France) there’s a shop called Madame Chamotte that sells many natural products including this price or rock!
It’s call a Terracotta Soap (Terre de Gommage) it can be used for full body care, face, hands & feet. It is really great on really bad skin, particularly feet and hands. Massage with the damp Terracotta soap and make foam carefully, do not add a cleanser (this is after soaking it overnight with just a teaspoon of water).
Use the stone dry on dry skin and massage in circles, then moisten the stone and start to massage again. Rinse and dry. Also ideal for gardening and kitchen hands (those onions smells!) moisten the stone immediately and wash your hands with it. Just like using a bar of soap! It really is a wonder. €12. www.madamechamotte.com
Our second to last hotel was in a small village on the North Atlantic coast, think of wild, uninhabited, white sandy beaches around every corner! A very small quirky hotel called La Petit Valise run and owned by fascinating, Bardot look alike!
The complimentary toiletries in the bathroom were by Fragonard, the very famous perfume house from Grasse.
I have never seen them in hotels before, of course I was amazed and delighted. Their “hotel fragrance” was Figuier Fleur, a light, gorgeous, summer fig. “Which pays homage to the charming heart of Provence, the birthplace of Fragonard.”
Figuier fleur by Fragonard is a Citrus Aromatic fragrance for women and men. Top notes are Bergamot, Neroli and Bitter Orange; middle notes are Fig, Freesia and Magnolia; base notes are Oakmoss, Nutmeg and Cardamom.
The products were soft, lightly fragranced and gorgeous!
Fragonard products available online and in Marks & Spencer beauty dept.
Do you know about this shop in London and on line?
https://thefrenchpharmacy.co/ A fabulous Pharmacy that sells all our favourite French skin care and more!
Thank you so much for reading this blog, I hope you found it interesting, informative and not to be taken too seriously! Mostly I hope it encourages you to go out and try new things! Please follow and share so the word gets out!
www.shoestringbeauty.com
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